Duel at Diablo (1966) Movie Script

Get down, damn it! I'm no Apache. Leave me be. Where are you from? Creel. That's where I'm headed. I'll get you home. No. I've got to go to him. He needs me. There's nothing but Apaches for 60 miles between here and Fort Creel. The Apaches won't hurt me. Mommy! Look. There. Good afternoon. What can I do for you? Did you find her? Where's the horse she was riding? Dead. That's too bad. -You take care of my horse? -Where did you find Mrs. Grange? Give him plenty of feed and water. He needs it. And rub him down, too. -Hello, Harrington. -Jess Remsberg. I see they've busted you back to Corporal again. Yeah, twice. It's been a long time since... Yeah, it's been a long time. Is Scotty McAllister out at the fort? Yeah. Did you hear he made Lieutenant? -Tell him I'm in here, will you? -Sure. Look at them out there. Watching, waiting to see how I'm gonna take it. Laughing behind my back. When they brought you back the first time, I tried to treat you decent. This time, the Apaches didn't take you away, you ran away. My horse is dead and you're back. Should be the other way around. Stop it, Ellen. Stop that! Please, Ellen, please. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I didn't. I'm sorry, Will. I'm sorry I was brought back to shame you. I don't like the way I feel. I hate myself for it. -You know how I loved you. -You were always good to me. When Chata's band took you, I just near went out of my head. I hunted for you for a year until I figured they'd killed you... -There's something I didn't tell you... -And suddenly, you were back. -I was afraid to tell you... -I wanted for us... -There's something that happened to me... -I don't want to hear what happened! I don't want to know anything about it. It's bad enough thinking about you with the Apaches trying to stop from thinking about it. I had to go back to them. I had to! That's what I'm trying to tell you. You liked living with a bunch of savages? -You don't understand. -No, I don't understand. Lots of white women have been grabbed by the Indians. A decent one would've killed herself before she'd let them turn her into an Indian squaw! -I'm not that decent, I guess! -Don't shout. They'll hear you! You don't care what happens to me... Only what people think about you. I do business with them people. The same people who treat your wife like dirt. I was better off with the Indians. Maybe that's where you figured you belong. I don't belong here anymore. Maybe you don't. At a trot! -Keep them in line there. -At a gallop! Back into line. Left about! No! Get into one line, damn it! Move into one line there! Get on the right of that flag! -Yes, sir! -That was the worst exhibition! I know, sir, but most of these new horses aren't saddlebroke... Half your men don't know one end of a horse from the other. Yes, sir! Come on now. Pull it into line there! Let's get this right! -Dress on that flag! -Lieutenant... Move those mounts! Look alive! -What is it, Corporal? -Jess Remsberg's in town, sir. Jess? -How does he look? -He still ain't over it, that's for sure. -Where is he? -The saloon, sir. -You lend Sergeant Ferguson a hand. -Yes, sir. -Sergeant Ferguson. -Yes, sir? Keep them polishing the seats of their pants on saddle leather till they can do that turn. -Yes, sir! -We leave for Concho in two days! All right, we're gonna try this maneuver once more. The dress is right, down on that flag. Forward, at a gallop! Left about! Left turn, left turn! Come on, move those horses in line! Whiskey. Lieutenant... I've got a wagonload of goods for Fort Concho. I'd sure appreciate it if I can tag along with your troop. No. What do you mean, no? I've got a right to Army protection. If I take you along, you do. But I'm not. My, you sure do look pretty in that new uniform. Lieutenant, I'm sure... This trip's going to be rough enough without dragging along extra freight. Sorry. I hear you found Ellen Grange on the way. Her husband didn't seem too anxious to get her back. -Tom Van scouting for you? -Aye. I sent him down to Mexico to check how many more warriors have joined Chata's force. I found him about 60 miles south, where I picked up Mrs. Grange. I'd say he was two days dying, Apache style. Then Chata's already come north across the border slaughtering anyone they've run across. Not without reason, Scotty. The Apaches have been holed up on that hellhole reservation at San Carlos, tricked, lied to, murdered... It cuts both ways, Jess. Bad enough when a man like Tom Van ends the way he did. But when you find women and children dead like that... -I've got to tell Major Novac about Van. -Wait a minute. You sent me a message. I'm here. Aye. That's a pretty nice scalp you got there, mister. I know where an Indian scalp like that would bring a pretty good price. How much you want for it? -What was that, McAllister? -He was going to kill you, Toller. All I did was ask what he wanted for the Indian scalp. This Indian was his wife. -What happened? -I hit you. It's a good thing you did. Where is it, Scotty? Where'd you get it? Fort Concho, from the town marshal. New man. Clay Dean. Clay Dean? Aye. Killer for hire, wearing a badge. You know the type. Thanks, Scotty. Dean may not be the man. If he's not, he'll tell me. The man who caught my wife alone will pay, and not just by dying. -He'll be praying... -Stop it! Apaches take revenge that way. No civilized... That was no Apache that killed and scalped my wife. That was one of your civilized men. We're heading for Fort Concho in a couple of days. I want you to come along. You just want to be with me when I catch this man, Dean. You figure I'll let him die quick and easy if you're there. With Tom Van gone, I need a scout. No. I've two wagonloads of ammunition and 25 green troopers. Colonel Foster needs them in Fort Concho. What are you bucking for? I can't afford any mistakes on my record. I'm going to be a general some day. I don't remember you being so damned ambitious. I'm getting married when I get to Concho. Sergeant Niebaumer's daughter. She'll give you hell if I don't get there. I guess a week or so won't make any difference. We ought to bury that, Jess. After I find the man that took it off her. Tell the Major, he'll have to wait. I've got some unfinished business to take care of. McAllister said you wanted to kill me. I don't much like that idea. I'd rather get it over with now, if the thought's still in your mind. It's not. Are you quite sure? I said so. Then I apologize. I'm sorry. I didn't know. I know you didn't. -Let her go. -Like hell. She tried to steal our horses! She should be put in jail, like any horse thief. No, we won't let her go till she's nice to us, like she was to those Apaches. She shouldn't mind us, after all that time she took pleasuring Chata's son. I said, let her go. Sure. I didn't touch you. I wasn't gonna do anything to her, just tell her husband. Don't tell her husband anything. You just forget it! All right, I won't, I swear! I like changing odds. 2-to-1 seemed more of an even bet. So you saved me again, Mr. Remsberg. This time you saved my honor. Only now you know there's none left to save. You sound like I should apologize for butting in. I didn't ask you to bring me back here. If the Apaches had taken you captive... At least the Apaches didn't spit when I walked past. -People here treat me like I'm... -I know. I had a Comanche wife. That's different. No one thinks it's wrong for a man to take himself an Indian girl as long as he leaves her behind when he goes. I said she was my wife. I know how they look at you. I know how they treat you. One of them finally killed my wife. Come on, better get you home. I can understand why you'd want to run away, Mrs. Grange... But there's something you ought to think about. If you go back to Chata's band, his son, Nachee... Will most likely kill you for running away from him. I didn't run away. I was taken away, unconscious. Our brave soldiers hit the Apache camp while the men were out hunting. The trooper who gave me this almost killed me before he saw my blond hair. If I were your husband, Mrs. Grange... You are not my husband. They all think any decent woman would prefer to die than live as an Apache squaw. Maybe they're right. Death comes soon enough. Anybody that hurries it is a damned fool. What I was trying to say is what's over is done. You and your husband could go someplace where nobody knows what happened. My husband would know. Thanks, Major. -I appreciate your cooperation. -It's my pleasure, Mr. Grange. Have a seat, Sergeant. If that was a hint you want me back in the Army, no thanks. Toller, Chata may have already started north across the border. You know what that means. But as far as my re-enlisting is concerned, no chance, Major. The Army owes me for 40 horses I spent four months hunting and breaking. I'm planning on investing my stakes in a nice, profitable gambling saloon. No more Army for me, Major. Sir... Grange claims you've given him permission to accompany me to Fort Concho. -The Army has to cooperate with Grange... -I understand. He's been helpful to us many times. It's just that with all green troopers, and only two days before we head out... You don't have those two days, McAllister. You'll be starting for Fort Concho at dawn. Sir, I need time to whip those raw recruits into some kind of shape. Half those horses Toller delivered still aren't saddlebroke! Then he will have to finish breaking them on the way to Fort Concho. -There's no time left... -Hold on! My contract calls for delivery of fresh mounts to McAllister. I've delivered them. The contract says you'll be paid to deliver saddlebroke horses. It's not my fault he has to move out before I'm finished! -If I could have just one more day. -You have your orders. -Yes, sir. -Not with me, he don't! Sir. You can have your money for the 20 mustangs you've already broken. If you want to get paid for the rest, you'll have to tag along with McAllister. He'll give you a receipt for every horse you break in on the way and Colonel Foster will pay you for them in Concho. The men I hired to help catch those mustangs are paid off and gone. The clothes I lived in for four months, I burned. I didn't buy this new outfit to eat no trail dust. You're dealing me this off the bottom of the deck. It's a swindle... -Be careful, Toller! -Shut up, McAllister! You don't scare me none. And you sure can't pull no rank on me. Toller, I'm sorry. But that's the way it will have to be. Hurry it up, Toller. You might manage to break another horse or two before dawn. You enjoy seeing me on the horn, don't you, McAllister? You were a pretty good sergeant once, Toller... But to me, you're just another money-hungry civilian. You used to be a pretty good sergeant yourself, McAllister but now you're just... A rank officer. I'll be back, Major. Company, attention! Line up in columns of two, dress right on the flag. Fall in over there! Form up in columns of twos, and dress right on that flag. Get that horse up off his back! Go get those reins. Bring that horse back in here. Open her up. Grange. Yeah? You might not be able to get any kind of an escort back here for weeks... Maybe longer. So? Might not be too good an idea, leaving your wife here alone all that time. What makes it your business? It doesn't make any difference anyway. She stole two horses and disappeared again last night. -Did you report it? -No. Why should I? They could have sent somebody after her. -Now, maybe she's got too much of a start. -If she wants to go, she can go. Straight to hell, for all I care. Sergeant... Mount up! Prepare to mount! Scotty, I'll be riding out on my own. I'll pick you up in a couple of days. Remember, you're no use to me hung up like Tom Van. Yes, mother. I'll need a spare horse, in case I have to make time. Toller! I want a receipt! Drop that guard there, trooper. Pull yourself up, lad. Look proud, all of you. -Move them out, Sergeant. -Yes, sir! Lead off to the left in a column of twos. Forward! Sergeant, present arms. Company, present arms! It is your doing Nachee is dead. White-eyed trappers took him alive. They beat him to death with a whip. I didn't want him dead. You white-eyes want us all dead. But when I die, it will not be as tame reservation Indian. I will die Apache! Killing my enemies! Kayeta. Where is Kayeta? Kayeta! The boy is your son. You can care for him while you live. Nachee's body lies in Mogollon Mountains. You will live until we come there. -You're going to kill me? -No. You will be alive... When I bury you in the grave of my son. Hold there! Hold on! Come on! Sir, there's a rider coming in from the south. Here, rub him down while he's feeding. You've been pushing hard. I didn't want to come in after dark and have one of your rookies mistaking me for an Apache. Thank you. Got anything for me? I got a good look at Chata. You stretch your luck pretty thin. He's got about 45 armed men. He's on the move. His whole camp, women and kids... Including your wife, Grange. -Where's Chata headed? -The Mogollon range would be my hunch. With his families along, he's got to set up a permanent camp before putting on war-paint. If we could cut in ahead of him, catch him by surprise... Scotty, he's got almost 50 fighting men. You've got 29, including me, Toller, and Grange. All I'm figuring is to hold Chata in place long enough for reinforcements to reach us from Concho. Just hold on a minute, Lieutenant! You ain't aiming to tangle with Chata? If you're going to eavesdrop, at least keep your mouth shut. I put out a lot of money for what's in that wagon. I want to get it to Concho! I didn't invite you, Grange! If you're so anxious to go there, hoist your butt on your wagon and go! You think I'm crazy? Corporal Harrington! You busting with things to say, too, Toller? I don't like it any more than Grange, but you're the cock-a-doodle-doo here... So, I'm stuck. Then? I just finished busting you another gut-twister. Mark it. Yes, sir? Corporal, you'll carry a dispatch to Colonel Foster at Fort Concho... And don't stop on the way. Not to eat, not to sleep. Understand? Yes, sir. Pick him out the two fastest mounts we've got. In future, Grange... When I'm having a private conversation, you keep the hell away from me. Like right now. Jess, get a solid meal under your belt. I want you to ride out to keep track of Chata. That'll leave you without a scout. Chata could find you before I find him. I'll take care of myself. You take care of yourself. There's a man in Concho I've got to see before I die. Grange. Yeah? If we should tangle with Chata... He'll have to leave his families unguarded. There's a chance we could get to your wife... Get her out. Well, she's where she wants to be... So, let her be. Mrs. Grange! Ellen Grange! What the... Get your pencil ready. Them horses all you worry about? Yeah. I got ten more to bust. Then my worries are over. You can still lose your skin out here, too. Not if I can help it. Sir... There's fresh pony tracks leading across our trail into that canyon. Soldier boy, you found your Apaches. We proceed, sir? Tell the men we'll advance at the ready. Yes, sir. Toller... Do you remember the Ojo Caliente fight? You got an arrow in your backside and I pulled you to cover. I remember. I have to lead the column. Somebody's got to find out if Chata's up there. And if I get killed, you'll know. That's right. I see. Hold your fire! Re-form in twos! Come on, you ain't paid for yet! Get those wagons to the rocks! Form a company front behind the wagons, Sergeant, and do that about turn! Yes, sir. -Let's get you mounted. -Leave me be! Don't give me no orders, McAllister! O'Brien! Form company front behind the wagons. About turn! Fire! About turn! Your leg's broke. I know. Sir, there's 16 dead... And there's some more men that's hurt so bad they can't be of much use... And the cook wagon's lost. I know, Sergeant. -All our grub, sir. -And all the water. I know, Sergeant! Chata's got us pinned down here. As long as he keeps us pinned down... Until Colonel Foster shows up it'll have been worth it. Won't it, Sergeant? Yes, sir. Tell the men that the water they've got in their canteen will have to last them until the reinforcements arrive. Any man who uses his up will just have to drink his own sweat. -Yes, sir. -And, Sergeant... -Fine job for your first Apache fight. -Thank you, sir. Well? Find shade for the wounded and see that everything's done that can be done. Yes, sir. The worst casualty is that cook wagon. That Chata, he dealt the cards, played us, and took the first hand cold. I've still got an ace card up my sleeve. Harrington? Aye. Don't look! Look the other way. It's Corporal Harrington. Come on, let's go. That's where Scotty is holed up. We gotta get to those rocks before Chata can cut us off. When I give you the word, you get going full out! Here, I'll take the boy. You've both got a better chance of making it if I take him. What are you doing? Chata won't take a chance on his men shooting his own grandson. Now! Lieutenant, look! Prepare to fire! Fire! Gimme here. You're scaring the kid. You're standing up now! Yeah, you're standing up! What'd you bring that here for? That's her son. Sorry, ma'am... I didn't mean to... Scotty, Harrington didn't make it. He was tortured before he died. Probably told Chata everything he knew. So Chata knows... I'm waiting here for reinforcements that aren't going to arrive? He also knows what you got in those wagons. He wants that ammunition and the glory. And he gets both by wiping us out... Which makes him bigger than ever with the Apaches. Jess. We've got to break out and find water. Where? There's only two places between here and Concho. One of them's where Chata left his families, 20 miles inside those hills. With those wagons, you'll never outrun him. And the other place? Diablo Canyon. Just a half a mile from where Chata's sitting. But Diablo is a box canyon. There's only one way in. I spotted four or five Apaches just inside the rocks. That's all he'll need to hold you out. What's next... General? -How old is he, ma'am? -Four months. He don't favor his mother, that's for sure. That's yours? Yes. You didn't tell me that... Why? After the way you acted? So you ran off the first chance you got to get back to this... Half-breed bastard! -Come off it, Grange. -You stay out of this, Toller! -That's just a little baby you're... -You keep your mouth shut or... You were saying? Pick it up. Be careful, Grange. I told you to pick it up. You got another one in your holster, use that one, or back water. You two can play games some other time. Right now, we can't spare either one of you. You ought to play poker, Grange. You got natural luck. Lt. McAllister would like to see you two. Look, we set out at dark with the wagons for Concho. Chata's not likely to follow us till he's sure we're not just trying to feint him out of the canyon. He'll just scout us, knowing he can catch us easy enough when he's ready. After a couple of hours... I'll shift direction... Strike straight for where he's left his families. His scouts will race back to report it. Chata will have to come out to stop us. Only by then, I'll have changed direction again. Circling back to Diablo Canyon... Getting there before Chata realizes what's happened. You might make general one day. Except he'll probably leave some men in the entrance to that canyon. Just in case. That's something you'll have to take care of before you set out for Concho. You and the four best men I've got left. Toller? He's not under my orders. But I'm thirsty, too. And I'm getting thirstier. Troopers, mount up! We're moving out! Dress on the wagons! Let's move it! Flank the first armor wagon! White, Hopkins, flank the second armor wagon. It's time now, Mrs. Grange. Avery, Miller, flank the freighter's wagon. Bugler, drive point behind the Lieutenant! -Help me mount, Sergeant. -Sir, are you sure you're able? -I give the orders. -Yes, sir. Here. As far as I'm concerned, your job's done when you report to Concho. If Clay Dean's there... I'll not take it bad if you don't return with Colonel Foster. Scotty. Keep an eye on Ellen Grange and her boy, will you? You've got no luck, Jess. She's already married. "Welcome to your gory bed... "or to victory." Been over two hours. McAllister must've made his first move by now. Now, we start straight for the hills and Chata's families. It's a scout, reporting back to Chata. -How many? -I couldn't count. They couldn't have left too many behind. Turn back to the canyon! We've got to get there by dawn! Now! It's almost dawn. We keep on like this all the way, these animals will die! We'll all be dead if we don't. Move those wagons faster! Forward! Bugler, start the charge! Make way for the wagons! Bugler, sound the charge! Swenson! Sound the charge! Welcome to the water hole, general. Where's Jess? Is he all right? He's on his way to Concho. Get the survivors back to the water hole. Start with Mrs. Grange. Mrs. Grange! You stay there. Did Jess get away? Yes, except two of Chata's outriders followed him all the way out and got some shots at him. -Sergeant Ferguson. -Yes, sir? Get them lined up, ready for inspection. Tell Major Novac we're heading out for Concho. -Sir, we only have 11 men left. -You. Get the Lieutenant... Sergeant, guard the entrance to the canyon with... Help him. And position the two best marksmen we've got left on top of the mesa. Try and get snipers up there. Mr. Toller... I understand you fought through a few of these Indian campaigns. -A few. -I'm a damned good sergeant... But I never fought no Indians before. I never even been west of St. Louis till I brought out this bunch of recruits. Get those horses back to the water. They earned it. And get one of those ammo wagons all the way back to the water so we can use it for a last stand. The question is whether we can hold out till Colonel Foster gets here. Suppose Remsberg gets caught? Remsberg ain't Harrington. I don't much like the idea of blowing up all this ammunition. Let's hope we don't have to. Casey! Nyles! Let's get you inside, so you can watch this whole rim up here. If I was Chata, I'd call it quits. Anybody see where that come from? Scatter! We're too exposed. They're using arrows. They're out of ammunition. Chata is taking no chances a stray bullet will hit that ammunition wagon. The Lieutenant... Seems to be resting easier. Fever's down, he'll be all right. You must love that kid an awful lot, to do what you did. He's my child. I wish... That I'd taken it different. I want you to know that, Ellen... Because we're not gonna get out of here. Maybe if... Maybe if we'd had a kid... Things would have been different. You were a good husband, Will, before the Apaches took me. But you never would have been again. Well... You'll need this when they get in here at us. There's two cartridges in it. -Toller. -Sergeant. Sir, they're getting ready for something out there. Let's have a look. My wagon. They're using it for cover! Sergeant! Hold your fire till you see something to shoot at. Fire! Hold your fire until you can see the legs of those ponies. Get ready to fire. Now! Casey, Nyles, cover us! We're coming back! One got back inside here. Get going. Grange, get going! Get down. Did you finish that big meal already? Colonel, is Clay Dean in town? The marshal? I suppose so. Unless he's off celebrating some place. He killed a man last night. -We'll be ready to leave in five minutes. -I'll catch up with you. Sergeant, mount up. Company, mount! We have to move back further. They'll all be slipping back in here now it's dark. We're pulling back, get moving. Hold it. Anybody seen Grange? Grange! Who's that? Jess Remsberg. Who the hell is Jess Remsberg? Scout for Colonel Foster at the Fort. All right. What do you want? You Clay Dean? Yeah. I need some information. -It's important. -Better be important to me. Well? Where did you get that? I won it in a poker game. Who did you win it from? -Why? -Who? First, you tell me why you want to know. She was my wife. So that's it. You're not gonna find out about him from me. I might tell him about you, though, when I see him. He did you a favor, mister. I have nothing against a man bedding down with a pretty, young Indian girl... -But when you call one of them your wife... -Tell me who you won it from. You can leave here now, squaw man. Leave your gun belt. Take off that gun. Or use it. Now, tell me who you won her hair from. If I do? If you do, Marshal, you go on living. You've got yourself quite a name as a bad man with a gun. You may think you can tell me any name then later come gunning for me. Is that what you're thinking? No, I... Now you know. You're not fast anymore. You give me the wrong name and I'll come back and finish the job. Now who? He needed $10 to see my hand. Grange put up the scalp for it. He was drunk and he... Did you say... Grange. A freighter. Will Grange. He was telling how he'd revenged his wife on this Comanche girl he'd caught. Get inside the perimeter. Get against the wall! -Get back! -But he's alive! Will! -They're killing him. -Not yet. It's an old trick. They saved him for this, to work on our nerves. Oh, God. "Holy Mary, Mother of God... "Pray for our sins... "Now and in the hour of our death." Ferguson! It's time to collect that dry brush and get it under that ammo wagon. If they rush us... That wagon better burn fast. Mrs. Grange! Somebody's got to kill him. Put an end to what they're doing. Give me the gun and get down. No. It's up to you now, Toller. Don't let them get the ammunition. Chata won't get that ammunition even if he wipes us out. And he's lost too many men against a force half his size. And you did it. No. I killed most of my men. Chata had to be stopped and you stopped him. That's what the Army's out here to do, ain't it? Is it? Yes. Yes. You tell them that... You sure this is what you want to do? I don't want him to die. Chata will take care of him. And raise him as an Apache. My people would never raise him as one of their own. They're getting ready for the kill. We better get back to the wagon. Now, Mrs. Grange. Mrs. Grange, let go now. They're coming, all of them. If they get me, you fire this wagon. Company, halt! Ellen! Let me go to Will! -Where is he? -Let me go to him, please! You stay here. I'll find him. Kill me. Have pity. Please, kill me. I wonder if they'll stay on the reservation this time. Why should they? Company, forward turn! Forward! General.